Imagine a world where millions can read, write, and converse in the same language. A world where a citizen of a nation has the means and accessibility to read an exact copy of the laws that govern him or her. For America, Great Britain, and many developed nations the dawning age of ubiquitous literacy has already come, and with another technological revolution on our hands, perhaps it is wise to look to the past for guidance.
I share a lot of skepticism and concern with Adam Greenfield on the topic of “Everyware”, or the idea that every object a human comes in contact with could suddenly start transmitting data. But what paradigm technology has not ushered in feelings of skepticism and concern?
Harold Innis and Walter Ong follow the development of a brand new technology that began to sake the very base of civilizations like Babylonia, ancient Egyptian, and Sumer, writing. Its strange to think of writing as a type of technology, but in actuality it could be one of the best and most practical to date.
Talk about skepticism and concern, writing was not as easily accepted like oral words, why?, its a paradigm technology. The people wanted security in knowing that the words on the clay, where in fact legitimate, so they fire burned their tablets, which would not allow some sneaky thief to manipulate bank records. Papyrus innovation came, and a fiber like, paper medium was developed that would allow more and more to start writing their own thoughts, an insane idea I am sure.
While everware could potentially be the demise of humans, I am sure their were people who thought the same about writing. It seems that great technological innovations always have to come with a grain of salt, but also provide a lot of good for many people.
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3 comments:
I think you have a good point regarding the skepticism of any new technological development. It is human nature to fear change. No one likes it. Some absolutely refuse to accept it even if it makes life easier.
For example, the development of digital cameras. There are so many people out there who refuse to get away from the traditional 35mm. The technology built into the high end SLRs nowadays have become far too good to pass up from the 4GB+ flash cards and the instant access of the photos. It is worth that effort of switching film, developing it and possibly losing clients due to turn around time? Some still say, yes.
I am a very open person towards technological advancement. I depend on it everyday, but the thought of one day having a chip implanted and it not being something that is keeping me alive (or maybe it is, who knows!) is very scary. I guess we'll have to wait and see if we get to experience that!
Technology defines the human species; it is what makes us unique, what makes us so persistent across the globe. From the first use of a sharpened stone or stick to hunt game all the way up through and beyond today's cutting edge technological advances in communication and commerce, technology has defined what we are. The fact of the matter is, technology is our universal force multiplier; it has allowed us to maintain our persistence as a species. Now days the advances in technology, (all sorts and types of it) occur so fast it seems a blur of action. This can be both exciting and unsettling. We move so fluidly form the familiar into the the new and cutting edge we're giving little time to adjust. I personally grow frustrated with my ever expanding ignorance, but hey this is the nature of the beast whic has defined our species since day one. I have to remind myself of this: technology, be it IT and Communications, or whatever has allowed us to fill and control every niche we've ventured into. It may one day come to bite us in the ass but, hey that's the nature of the beast, its our nature.
The only thing hindering human advancement in the technology field is limited resuources and lack of knowledge. With 6 billion people and growing, this world is demanding more than tecnological advancements for pleasure. I believe future technological advancements will be for the survival of man kind instead.
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